Adjustable desk top



Jan. 22, 1957 w, B. MacWHlRTER 2,778,706

' ADJUSTABLE DESK TOP Filed Feb. 27, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet l -WILL|AM a. MACWHIRTER l'|e.2 Bywwm M I Jan. 22, 1957 Filed Feb. 2'7, 1953 W. B. M WHlRTER ADJUSTABLE DESK TOP FIG. 3

3 Shee ts-Sheet 2 Jan. 22, 1957 w, B. MaCWHlRTER 2,778,706

ADJUSTABLE DESK TOP 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fild Feb. 27, 1953 INVENTOR.

WILLIAM B. MAGWHIRTER Bywlllm wmuwm United States Patent v ADJUSTABLE DESK TOP William B. MacWhirter, East Grand Rapids, Mich.

Application February 27, 1953, Serial No. 339,348

2 Claims. (Cl. 312-316) This invention relates to an improved adjustable desk top. More specifically, it relates to a hinge device for a desk top comprising two pieces, namely, a forward fixed deck and a movable rear deck with an inclination adjustment device, and having friction adjustment means identical to and serving as mounting means. The rearward portion of the desk top may be adjusted to any of an infinite number of rearwardly and downwardly inclined positions. The desk top inclination adjustment device is entirely independent of the mounting means and, therefore, the inclination of the desk top is entirely independent of the operation necessary to gain access to the storage box beneath said top.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a simple and practical construction of device of the class specified.

Another object of the invention is to arrange for the adjustment of the desk, and component parts relatively to one another and relatively to the floor onvwhich the device is set, so that the most advantageous positions of desk can be secured for the comfortable accommodation of the occupant.

Another object of the invention is to arrange for the advantageous adjustment of the desk-top and to permit articles such as books and papers to be held in position on the desk-top when same is adjusted.

An illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the combined desk and chair, the desk-top being shown in a closed, lowered position and the chair in a rotated position;

Figure 2 is a perspective View of the desk structure, the desk-top being shown in a rearwardly,'downwardly inclined elevated position for reading and writing;

Figure 3 is a transverse, broken, sectional view taken on line 3-'3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on line 44 of Figure'2.

Referring now in detail to these drawings, the combined desk and' chair therein shown comprises generally a desk structure and a chair structure (see Figure 1) connected by a supporting frame having spaced vertical supports 14, 20 and 23 of tubular metal construction connected by horizontal extensions of chair structure support members 16 and 17, likewise of tubular metal construction.

The desk structure (see Figure 2) comprises generally a supporting member 27 of tubular metal construction, a desk-top 25, preferably wood, a forward deck 26, preferably wood, a storage compartment 29 defined by the front, rear and sidewalls of storagebox 24, and a desktop hinge and/or adjustment device comprised of hinge member 31, hinge plates 32, hinge 36, adjustment knob 28, and torque member 34.

The desk structure is connected to and supported by the vertical upper ends of support members 20 and 23 (see Figure 1) by means of telescoping joint connections with thelower ends of desk support member 27. Desk support member 27 is a single length of metal tubing bent in the form of an inverted U-shaped frame having a rearwardly shaped loop; said loop is formed by bending the upper portion of the inverted U-shaped frame rearwardly with respect to the transverse plane of the combined desk and chair, thereby forming a horizontal, rearwardly extending loop having downwardly extending legs at each of the forward front ends of the loop; said downwardly extending legs telescope within the upper ends of the vertical support members 20 and 23, all' of which are, preferably, in the same transverse vertical plane. The inverted U-shaped desk support member 27, having a rearwardly shaped (preferably horizontal) loop, supports storage box 24, which is attached along the entire rear wall and portions of the side walls to the rearwardly shaped loop (preferably to the inside perimeter of said loop) as by resistance welding.

Members 16, 17, 20, 23 and 27 may be fabricated from one (or more) lengths of tubing, if it is desired to construct a combined desk and chair in which combination the chair and desk are relatively fixed with respect to one another and to the fioor on which the device is set.

The storage box 24 comprises a unitary sheet of metal formed so as to have a bottom, a front wall, sidewalls, and a rear wall, defining a storage compartment 29 for school books and the like. The front wall has extending append-ages that fold rearwardly lapping the sidewalls, preferably on the outside of the storage box 24, and contributing to the strength thereof and concealing sharp edges; the sidewall-s have rearwardly extending appendages which fold radially inwardly and lap the rear wall, preferably on the outside of the storage box 24; the lower edges of the appendages of the sidewalls are then peened under (forwardly and inwardly) so as to support the rear corner portions of the bottom. It is seen that storage box 24 can also be constructed (as by a mechanical press) as a deep-drawn pan having continuous metal walls. Storage box 24 serves as a mounting member for the flat forward deck 26 and desk-top 25, and in turn, desk-top 25 serves, when in its lowered position as a cover for that rear por tion of the storage compartment 29, defined by storage box 24, which is not covered by deck 26. V

The desk-top, or cover, 25 is connected (see Figure 2) to the storage box 24 by means of a fiat hinge member 31, preferably plywood, which extends from side to side of the storage box 24 and which serves to shield the interior of compartment 29 from view when the desk-top 25 is in a rearwardly, downwardly, inclined elevated position. A continuous, double leaf hinge 36 is attached by one leaf to the rear transverse, horizontal edge of hinge member 31 on the upper surface of said member as by wood screws 37; the other leaf of the continuous hinge 36 is likewise attached, as by wood screws 37, to the lower surface of the desk-top 25, along a line parallel to and intermediate the front and rear edges of desk-top 25, preferably toward the rear edge of desk-top 25 rather than the front edge since a rearwardly location of said hinge attachment favors the shielding function of said hinge member 31 and, more importantly, allows desk-top 25 to be adjusted to rearwardly, downwardly, inclined elevated positions with only small, appreciable forward movement with respect to the occupant of the chair portion of the device. It is thus seen that desk-top 25 is therefore swingably attached along the horizontal, upper, rear edge of hinge member 31.

The front corners of hinge members 31 are attached, as by wood screws 38, to inwardly projecting flanges of hinge plates 32. Hinge plates 32 are attached to housing plates 84 (see Figure 3) as by pivot rivets 35; hinge plates 32 therefore may rotate in a vertical direction, upwardly, about a common transverse, horizontal axis which is coincident with the shanks of pivot rivets 35. Friction spacers 83, preferably wood, are thicker than the thickness of hinge plate 32 and extend horizontally through holes in the vertical fianges of hinge plates 32. The vertical ends of friction spacers 83 bear against the sidewalls of the storage box 24 and the housing plates 84, between which the vertical flanges of hinge plates 32, encompassing friction spacers 83, rotate about pivots 35. Housing plates 84 are attached to the sidewalls of the storage box 24 by means of bolts 40 and 88 (see Figure 3 and Figure 4). Bolt 40 likewise serves as a stop to limit the rotational travel of hinge plates 32 about pivot rivets 35, hinge plates 32 being provided with appendages which. strikebolt 40. Bolts 40 and 88 may be tightened, as by nuts 85, to increase the pressure, and therefore the friction, of the sidewalls of the storage box 24 and the housing plates 84 upon the vertical end surfaces of friction spacers 8'3. Friction thus engendered prevents. slamming of the desk-top 25 when being lowered. It is apparent that self-tapping sheet metal screws maybe used in lieu of bolts 40 and 88; said screws may tapdirectly into housing plate 84,. thereby eliminating nuts 85. Also, if desired, friction spacer 83 may be omitted since friction. may be created between hinge plate 32 and housing plate 84, on one side and hinge plate 32 and the sidewall of storage box 24,- on the other side, by tightening attachment means.

It will thus be seen that hinge member 31 is hinged at its front forward corners to the storage box 24 about a horizontal axis (the pivots 35) intermediate the front and rear walls of the storage box 24 and the said axis is in a transverse plane through the desk structure and is located near the top of the sidwewalls of the storage box 24 and the upward rotational travel of binge member 31 is limited about pivots 35 by contacts of stop appendages on hinge plates 32 with stop bolts 40. It is also seen that friction may be applied against the rotationaltravel of hinge plates 32 about pivots 35 by tightening bolts 40 and 88. It is also seen that desk-top 25 may swingablyrotate about a horizontal axis at the rear upper edge of hinge member 31 and may also swingably rotate in unison with hinge member 31- about a horizontal axis forward of the front edge of hinge member 31, as defined bypivots 35', both axes mentioned being preferably parallel and horizontal.

A device is provided for adjusting desk-top 25 to-various-rearwardly, downwardly, inclined, elevated positions. This device is bestshown in Figure 2, also see Figures 3 and-'4; The device is comprisedof a torque member 34, preferably a metal rod, an eye bolt 33, and a knob 28, preferably metal. in general this device provides for changing the angle between hinge member 31 and the desk-top 25 and securing same at the most advantageous, rearwardly, downwardly, inclined elevated position.

Torque member 34 is formed in a U-shape and the base of the U-shape extends through horizontal holes in the vertical flanges of hinge plates 32, which holes are located preferably forward of hinge member 31, and transversely' across the top of storage compartment 29. The legs of the U-shaped torque member 34 extend upwardly and rearwardly. The left hand leg of torque member 34 is bent in a vertical loop so as to form a support for the underside (or surface) of desk-top 25; this loop is unattached and is free to rotate. The left hand leg is displaced angularly upward with respect to the right hand leg of the U-shaped torque member 34 so as to form a torsional spring support to cushion the desktop 25 from slamming when being lowered from a rearwardly, downwardly, inclined elevated position, to a closed position. The end of the right hand leg of the U-shaped torque member 34 is bent horizontally outwardly and parallel to the base of the U-shaped portion of the torque member 34. This horizontal, outward extension of the right hand leg of torque member 34 extends through the eye of eye-bolt 33 (see Figures 3 and 4), which eye extends downwardly in a vertical, longitudinal plane and beneath the lower surface of desk-top 25 through a longitudinal slot in desk-top 25. Said longitudinal slot extends through desk-top 25, from top to bottom, preferably near the front right hand corner of the desk-top, and adjacent and parallel to the right hand edge of said desk-top. The threaded shank of eye-bolt 33 extends upward through the longitudinal slot in desk-top 25 and through a tapped hole in knob 28, and the shank is then peened above the upper surface of knob 28 so as to prevent removal of knob 28 from eye-bolt 33, yet knob 28 may still be twisted about and travel downward on the threaded shank of eye-bolt 33. Knob 28 is of larger diameter than the transverse width of the longitudinal slot in desk-top 25, and rides on the upper edges of said slot. When knob 28 is twisted to the top of the shank of eye-bolt 33 it is seen that knob 28 may be freely pushed forwardly along the slot in desk-top 25, carrying with it eye-bolt 33, which in turn causes torque member 34 to rotate about its transverse axis and thereby furnishes means for elevating desk-top 25 to a rearwardly, downwardly, inclined elevated position and at the same time positively supports both sides of desk-top 25 near the forward corners while the rear edge of desk-top 25 rests, with only small forward movement with respect to the occupant ofthe chair, on the rear edge of the desk structure on top of support member 27, along the rear wall of storage box 24. Desk-top 25 may be secured in any one of an infinite number of rearwardly, downwardly, inclined elevated positions, within the limits of travel allowed by the slot and linkage, by twisting the knob 28 about the shank of eye-bolt 33 so as to draw the eye of eye-bolt 33 upwardly into the slot, thereby causing a binding friction between the outwardly, horizontal extension of the right hand leg of torque member 34 (which extends through the eye of eye-blot 33) and the lower surface of desk top 25, thereby securing torque member 34 positively against rotation and both right and left legs of said torque member positively support desk-top 25 in any selected rearwardly, downwardly, inclined elevated position and such inclination can only be changed manually. The desk-top 25 may be lowered by reverse order of operation.

In the use of the desk, access may be had to the storage compartment 29 by lifting the rear edge of the desk-top 25 and thereafter lowering the same to close the compartment, during which movements the hinge member 31 and the desk-top 25 move in unison about pivots 35. Likewise, access may be had to the storage compartment 29 without changing the angular relationship of desk-top 25 to hinge member 31 and this relationship will remain unchanged until manually changed by operating with knob 28; therefore desk-top 25 may be raised to gain access to storage compartment 29 beneath without disturbing any pro-selected angular relationship between hinge member 31 and desk-top 25 and that, upon being lowered, desk top 25 will again assume the same rearwardly, downwardly, inclined elevated position as before. Further it is apparent that the adjustment device is noiseless; prevents slamming; operates so that the desk-top remains essentially the same distance from the eyes of the occupant of the chair for all rearwardly, downwardly, inclined elevated positions; and further the desk-top can be moved only by deliberate act of the occupant, which is a desirable safety feature. It is apparent that a knob 28, an eye-bolt 33, and a slot through desk top 25, may be provided at either sideedge of. the desk top 25-for purpose of inclining desk-top with either hand. Further it is apparent that knob 28, eye-bolt 33, and a slot through desktop 25, maybe provided along both side edges of desk-top 25, for operation of inclining means by either hand.

When it is desired to provide a book ledge to hold books or'papers upon desk-top 25, then book ledge member 43 (see Figures 2, 3, and 4), preferably a metal rod, is rotated inte position so as to project above the rear top edgeof desk-top: 25. Book ledge 43- is'preferablyformed into an inverted U-shape having forwardly offset legs and the ends of the legs are bent inwardly parallel to the base of the U-shape: Said inwardly bentsleg" extensions are housed within a slot in the 'rearsurface: of the pencil trough 87, preferably wood, which is attached to the forward face of the rear wall of storage box 24, as by wood screws 92. 'Book ledge 43 may therefore rotate about an axis within the compartment 29, said axis being coincident with the inwardly bent leg extensions of book ledge 43 and attached to the desk-top support structure. Book ledge 43, when not in use, may be rotated out of the way to its neutral posit-ion as shown by broken lines in Figure 4 and in such position remain in rest on the forward edge of pencil trough 86, preferably sheet metal, which is attached to the forward surface of the rear wall of storage box 24, as by spot welding.

It is obvious that book ledge 43, which is swingably attached to the desk-top supporting structure, may be used in any closed, lowered, orrearwardly, downwardly, inclined elevated position of the desk-top 25 for the purpose of holding books or other articles in position on the desk-top 25 and when not in use may be rotated within the storage compartment 29.

Forward deck member 26 is secured to the storage box 24 by means of screws 89 (see Figure 4) extending upward through holes in horizontal flange extensions of housing plates 84. Deck member 26 is also attached to the horizontal wood member 90, along the forward lower, front edge of deck member 26, as by nailing, which in turn is secured to the front wall of storage box 24, along top edge, as by wood screws 91. Deck member 26 is preferably provided with a pencil trough routed in the upper surface so as to provide storage for pencils and the like.

Referring now to Figure 1 it is seen that the chassis, or supporting structure, of the combined desk and chair is comprised of: members 20 and 23, forming the front legs and supporting structure for the desk; members 16 and 17 forming the rear legs and chair support; and member 14 (attached to and parallel with vertical extensions of members 16 and 17, as by welding) which forms a housing support for the chair structure spindle.

Members 20 and 23 are of tubular construction and are formed, oppositely handed, so that each has an upward and vertical extension at the forward end of the device at spaced distance apart a transverse plane so as to form vertical housings to receive the right and left hand legs, respectively, of the downwardly extending ends of the tubular, loop shaped, desk structure support member 27, said vertical extensions of members 20 and 23 being parallel and vertical and the axes thereof being common to and coincident with, respectively, the right hand and left hand downwardly extended, parallel, vertical extensions of member 27. The lower portions of the vertical end extensions of members 20 and 23 are then curved vertically downward and inwardly each toward the other in a transverse plane, the lower surface of said curved portions of members 20 and 23 rest on the floor and continue curving upwardly and transversely toward each other and, before meeting, each member 20 and 23 curves rearwardly and upwardly, and continues horizontally, above the floor, parallel and at spaced distance apart to form housings for the forward extensions of chair structure support members 16 and 17 respectively. 7

It will be noted that, if it is desired to construct a combined desk and chair wherein the desk structure and the chair structure are relatively fixed each with respect to the other and to the floor on which the device is set, then members 16, 17, 20, 23 and 27 can be constructed from one length of continuous metal tubing, or if desired the various telescoping joints may be mechanically fixed, as by welding.

It is preferable to provide adjustment means whereby the desk structure may be raised or lowered with respect to the floor.

Vertical adjustment of desk structure may be secured by means of self-tapping screws 79 entering holes in housing members 20 and 23, thereby securing the downwardly extending legs of member 27 against movement within housing members 20 and 23. Likewise it is desirable to provide adjustment means between desk structure and chair and means for securing adjustment in most advantageons position. This may be provided by means of bolt 19, extending downwardly between spaced, forwardly extended portions of tubular members 16 and 17, and

extending through washers 18 (one washer being above plane passing through the axes of the forwardly extending port-ions of members 16 and 17 and another being I below said plane). Washers 18 preferably have one flat side and one convex side and so mounted that the convex sides face each other. It is seen that upon tightening bolt 19 with a nut that washers 18 are drawn together and in so doing the forwardly extending portions of members 16 and 17 are forced apart, outwardly, and thereby bind themselves against movement by frictional contact with the walls of spaced housing members 20 and 23 into which the forwardly extended portions of members 16 and 17 telescope. Likewise it is desirable to provide adjustment means for raising and lowering of chair and means for securing same. This may be done by supporting spindle 13 within socket tube 14 on spacers, which in turn are supported by ball bearing similar in arrangement to that shown in Patent 2,732,007, dated January 24, 1956, by William B. MacWhirter. Spindle socket tube 14 is closed off on the lower end by cap 15. It is seen that seat may swivel about a vertical axis coincident with axis of socket tube 14 and spindle 13. It is desirable to limit swivel of seat by stop tube 8 which is attached to the lower portion of seat panel 6 and rotates with said sea-t panel, upon striking rubber bumper tubes 7 the seat swivel is thereby limited. Ornamental cap 12 is inserted to close off the open end of stop tube 8. Likewise it is desirable to provide adjustment of the chair back relative to the chair seat. This is accomplished by attaching chair back panel 2 at each side by means of screw 5, extending through rubber washer 4, and into clamp 3 which clamp encompasses tubular chair back support frame 1. Chair back support frame 1 is formed as an inverted U with legs extending downwardly toward the rear edge of seat panel 6 and upon extending past rear edge of seat panel 6 said legs extend at spaced distance apart, parallel, and forwardly one leg under each side edge of seat panel 6. The forwardly extended ends of chair back support frame 1 are closed oif with ornamental caps 12. The forwardly extended portions of chair back support frame 1 each are encompassed by clamps 3 at spaced distance apart which serve to attach chair back support frame 1 to seat panel 6 along under side edges of seat panel 6 by means of screws 5 which extend through counterbored holes in seat panel 6. It is seen that the chair back 2 may be raised and lowered with respect to seat panel 6 and further it is seen that chair back 2 may be moved forwardly or rearwardly with respect to seat panel 6, both adjustments being independent of each other and each adjustment being secured in the most advantageous position by clamps 3.

I claim:

1. In combination, a storage box formed of a bottom wall, front and rear walls and opposite sidewalls; housing plate attached to each of said side walls; hinge plate pivotally attached to housing plate, allowing hinge plate to swing between housing plate and sidewall; hinge plates transversely connected by hinge member to provide unison movement of hinge plates; hinge member swingably attached to desk top along rear upper edge of said member, intermediate front and rear edge and on bottom of desk top; desk top supported along side edges by leg extensions of torque member pivotably attached to hinge plates; leg extensions having attachment means to desk top whereby said desk top may be held in selected, rear wardly, downwardly inclined, elevated positions with respect: to said storage box; means for limiting travel of binge member about hinge plate pivots; means for limiting travel of desk top about swinging attachment to hinge member.

2. In combination a storage box formed of a bottom wall, front and rear walls and opposite sidewalls; housing plate attached to each of said side walls; hinge plate pivotably attached to housing plate; hinge plates transversely connected by hinge member to allow unison movement of hinge plates; hinge member swingably attached to desk top along rear upper edge of said hinge member, intermediate front and rear edge and on bottom of desk top; means for changing the angle between hinge member and desk top and securing same at the most advantageous, rearwardly, downwardly, inclined elevated position, to allow unison movement of desk top and hinge member about hinge pivots in fixed angular relationship.

References Cited'in the file of patent UNITED' STATES PATENTS Tarring May" 6, McNamara Feb. 19, Sanford May 8, Stevens Feb. 10, Abbott Oct. 18, Gabb Sept. 19, Yawman Aug. 21, Merrill Oct. 9, Nordmark May 3, Van Buren Dec. 4, 00111 et a1. Dec. 25,

FOREIGN PATENTS Sweden July 12, Switzerland June 16, 

